Johannesburg

When To Visit Johannesburg:

Johannesburg, also known as eGoli – the city of gold –, is the beating heart of South Africa. It ranks as the second largest city on the continent and serves as the major transport hub for the region.

Many of our safaris either begin or end here – and an overnight stay may be necessary if your flights do not connect well.

The city has an unfortunate reputation for crime, but much of this is unwarranted. There are very small pockets that you should avoid – if you do so, the city is a thriving and friendly place. As a general rule, we suggest that you base yourself in the more affluent northern suburbs and then venture into the townships only with an accredited guide.

Many of the suburbs within the city have enjoyed a facelift and can offer a unique insight into the street culture coupled with some fantastic cuisine. One of our top picks for activities in Johannesburg is a tour of the SowetoTownship, coupled with the ApartheidMuseum, for an insight into the rich cultural heritage of the country.

If you have a little longer to spend in Johannesburg, some of our favourite places to stay are AtholPlace Boutique Hotel (the only Relais & Châteaux property in the city) and The Saxon Boutique Hotel (where Nelson Mandela edited his autobiography).

If you are short on time between your flights and only need a place to rest your head, we recommend the luxurious InterContinental Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport Hotel (which is only 70 yards from the international departures hall) or the African Rock Hotel (for something a little smaller and more homely).

Lauren at Yellow Zebra did a fantastic job arranging our safari. All transfers went very smoothly and we loved the places we stayed. I appreciated the option to mix and match low, medium and high...

I had a pleasant discussion about the trip with YZ over many e-mails over more then a year. My questions were promptly answered and my suggestions readily accepted. E.g. I had researched lodges on my...

Yellow Safari have been excellent from start to finish. Everything went like clockwork and enabled us to relax and enjoy ourselves. I thank Kelly for all her work on this. We will certainly use them...

Having spent a good few months researching for this holiday of a lifetime, and having compared Yellow Zebra against several other operators (including some big names), I have to say YZ have come out...

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